Concept Overview

Soma is a smart desk companion designed to reduce phone usage during bedtime and support healthier sleep and morning routines. Instead of asking users to disconnect, it replaces essential nighttime phone functions such as alarms, music, time, and ambient light, with a calm, tactile, and expressive physical object.

The project began with a personal observation: smartphones have become the last thing people use before sleep and the first thing they reach for in the morning. While convenient, this habit often leads to overstimulation, disrupted sleep, and unfocused mornings. Despite knowing this, users continue to rely on their phones because they handle many essential tasks.

This raised a key question: What if the phone didn’t have to come to bed and what could replace it without forcing behavior change?

Early exploration started as a smart bedside lamp with alarm, audio, and adaptive lighting features. Feedback revealed that the idea was stronger as a presence rather than a single-function object, leading to a shift in direction, from a lamp to Soma as a smart companion designed to be present without being distracting.

Design Philosophy & System

Soma is built around the idea of calm, intentional technology, inspired by Bauhaus principles and Teenage Engineering’s approach to expressive, human-centered product design. 

The product relies on physical interaction rather than screens or voice control. Buttons and knobs encourage deliberate use and reduce mindless engagement. A small dot-matrix display acts as an emotional layer, subtly changing expression based on time of day and mode, while a larger e-ink display handles functional tasks like setting alarms, selecting audio, and viewing essential information.

The form and behavior were developed together. The product was modeled in Blender, with the moodboard guiding material choices, lighting softness, and proportions. The result is a quiet, architectural object that feels present, tactile, and emotionally aware without feeling „technological“.

AI Process & Role

After completing the base 3D model, I used a static render of the product as a foundation and worked with Adobe Firefly to enhance materials, lighting, and overall realism. This step helped translate the raw 3D form into a more believable, product-grade visual while maintaining the original design intent.

That rendered image was then used as the first frame reference for motion work. Building from this single frame ensured visual consistency across all subsequent shots.

For motion and scenario-based visuals, I used Sora by OpenAI, providing detailed prompts that described not only the environment and mood, but also the product’s behavior and underlying technology. The prompts explicitly referenced:

- The articulated movement of the lamp arm

- The presence of a dot-matrix display for expression

- The e-ink display for information and control

- The product’s role within calm, everyday contexts

By being precise about both form and function, the generated sequences aligned closely with my original vision. While minor iterations were required, the majority of outputs were coherent and usable, allowing me to focus on storytelling, pacing, and atmosphere rather than technical execution alone.

This workflow treated AI as a visual production partner—accelerating rendering and motion exploration—while the concept, design logic, and creative direction remained fully intentional and controlled.

Conclusion

Soma explores a quieter, more intentional way of living with technologyone that supports daily routines without demanding constant attention. Designed as a calm desk companion, it focuses on presence, tactility, and subtle expression rather than screens and notifications.

The project combines physical product design with AI-assisted rendering and motion to communicate not just how Soma looks, but how it behaves and feels in everyday life.

To complete the system, I designed a logo after the product itself. I wanted the logo to be industrial and reflect Soma’s form, materials, and philosophy, serving as a visual extension of the product rather than a separate branding exercise.